What Does Leadership Looks When We Care Enough to Take Responsibility?
5 ways Emerging Voices are carrying January’s lessons into the month of love
February begins with a different kind of energy.
It’s the month of love—but not just celebration. It’s reflection. Care. Responsibility. And after a January shaped by hard lessons, feedback, and humility, many Emerging Voices are starting this month asking a deeper question:
How do I lead with more intention—not just more effort?
This week at Emerging Voices Unite , the community didn’t rush forward. They carried practices, named what helped most, and practiced listening—especially when pressure showed up.
Here’s what unfolded.
What Leadership Practice Are You Carrying Forward from January?
We opened the week by closing the loop in January.
“One leadership practice I’m carrying forward from January is…”
The responses reflected something powerful: leadership growth doesn’t come from adding more—it comes from choosing better.
One reflection that resonated deeply came from Robert Jaeger, who shared a principle he lives by:
Taking full responsibility—especially when things go wrong—creates agency. When you own the mistake, you regain control and the ability to change the outcome.
This insight reflects a well-supported leadership truth: Responsibility isn’t about blame—it’s about choice.
Read the reflections and add your own practice
- Connect with Robert Jaeger on LinkedIn
Which EVU Experiences Supported You Most Last Month—and Why?
Before stepping fully into February, we asked the community to pause and notice:
Which EVU content helped you most this month?
The responses were clear. Emerging Voices found the most value in:
- Lives & Conversations
- EVU Challenges
- Shared Reflections
In other words: learning that felt human, applied, and shared.
This aligns with research on adult learning and leadership development—people retain and apply insight best when reflection, dialogue, and practice happen together.
Shout out to our Emerging Voices who shares their valued content: Talila Millman, Jonathon Chambless, Chenny Marie Cantano
Vote or share what supported your growth
How Does Listening Change Leadership Under Pressure?
We ended the week with a practice rooted in care—not control.
When feedback arrives or pressure rises: Pause. Ask: “What would listening fully look like here?” Respond with clarity, not defense.
This challenge reinforced a leadership shift many are practicing: Listening is not passive—it’s responsible leadership in action.
Research consistently shows that leaders who pause and listen under pressure build stronger trust, reduce conflict escalation, and improve decision quality.
Share what changed when you practiced listening
How Do Everyday Moments Teach Responsibility in Leadership?
How Responsibility Shows Up When Things Don’t Go as Planned
Robert’s dishwasher story reminded us that leadership lessons don’t always come from boardrooms—they often come from moments when plans fall apart.
What stood out wasn’t the problem itself, but the response:
- Asking for help
- Adjusting expectations
- Staying curious instead of defensive
It’s a clear example of leadership with care—recognizing limits, accepting feedback, and staying accountable without self-blame.
- Read Robert’s full story
- Connect with Robert Jaeger on LinkedIn
How Leaders Turn Awareness Into Decisions That Actually Hold
Most leaders don’t struggle with insight. They struggle with follow-through.
This EVU Live conversation opened Season 2 by focusing on a critical gap many leaders experience: knowing what needs to change, but defaulting back to old habits when pressure returns.
Anna Rooney and Nikki Estes explored how leaders move from awareness into decisions that actually stick — especially in complex, uncertain environments where clarity isn’t guaranteed.
Rather than chasing more lessons, the conversation centered on fewer, better decisions — and the discipline required to execute them.
Key Takeaways Leaders Are Carrying Forward
• Prioritize for clarity, not overwhelm Breaking large goals into smaller milestones reduces stress and creates momentum leaders can sustain.
“A decision needs execution to be valid; without action, it’s just intention.” — Anna Rooney
• Use accountability to stay in motion Leaders move faster and more consistently when working with people who understand both goals and timelines.
• Set limits on decision-making To avoid overthinking, constrain research and commit once key questions are answered.
“Awareness plus action, actually to me equals decision.” — Anna Rooney
• Define personal non-negotiables Criteria like flow, flexibility, and fulfillment help leaders make choices they can maintain over time.
• Treat failure as data, not defeat Setbacks become inputs for refinement rather than reasons to stall.
“Leadership is not defined by what you realize. It’s defined by what you decide after.” — Nikki Estes
• Plan with real trade-offs in mind Every new commitment requires replacing an old habit within the same 24 hours.
• Act on fewer lessons, more fully Execution — not accumulation — is what differentiates leadership growth in 2026.
“2026 is not about learning more lessons. It’s about acting on fewer and better ones.” — Nikki Estes
🎥 Missed the live session or want to revisit the conversation? Rewatch the full EVU Live episode here
- Connect with Anna Rooney on LinkedIn to follow her insights on decision-making, leadership under pressure, and executive clarity.
- Connect with Nikki Estes to follow her work on intentional leadership, community-building, and guiding leaders from insight to action.
How Do We Lead When We Care Enough to Take Responsibility?
February—the month of love—invites a quieter kind of leadership.
Not grand gestures. But responsibility. Listening. Ownership. Care that shows up consistently, especially when things are uncomfortable.
As you begin this month, consider:
- What practice are you choosing to keep?
- Where can listening replace defending?
- How does responsibility change the way you lead others—and yourself?
Leadership doesn’t deepen because we know more. It deepens because we care enough to act differently.
🔔 Emerging Voices Unite is where leadership is practiced with honesty, responsibility, and heart.